BBC plans widespread cuts to services　

The BBC is planning widespread cuts in its digital radio, Internet and commercial magazines services as it tries to fend off criticism of its role in UK media.

A draft of the strategic review which has been presented by Mark Thompson, the director general, to the BBC Trust, the broadcaster's sovereign body, spells out the extent of cuts the executive is prepared to swallow. They would see the end of the relatively little-used 6Music and Asian Network digital radio stations and a halving of the size of the BBC's Internet operations. The sale of magazine titles published by Worldwide, the BBC's commercial arm, is also included in the draft, the people said. The BBC would rein in the amount of money it spends on buying sports rights and imported programmes such as Mad Men and Heroes. The budget for sports acquisition will be capped at 8.5 per cent of the £3.5bn licence fee, currently about £297m, according to the draft. There would also be substantial cuts to the £100m spent on mainly US imports.